Wheelie Bins: Frequently Asked Questions

Wheelie bins, love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re here to stay (at least for a short while). In this blog post, we aim to answer your most frequently asked questions, as well as a few interesting facts about our two-wheeled wheelie bins.

What are wheelie bins made of?

Wheelie Bins are made of polyethylene, a robust plastic material that can withstand harsh elements such as acids, alkalis, fungi & bacteria. Polyethylene is also the perfect material for the British weather as it resists cracks, dents & bending. This is highly desirable during the windy seasons when wheelie bins are knocked around quite a bit.

Are wheelie bins waterproof?

Due to their injection moulding construction, wheelie bin bodies are made in one go, reducing the risk of any holes, and increasing its strength and durability. The injection moulding process melts polyethylene granules and injects the resulting liquid into a mould. This means that there are no gaps in the wheelie base, and once fitted with a lid, it will be completely sealed, keeping smells in, and rainwater out.

Does the wheelie bin axle rust?

So that you can keep your wheelie bin outside, every part of the wheelie is made to be weather-resistant, including the metal axle! Made of stainless steel, the axel pole does not stain, corrode, or rust easily. Stainless steel is an alloy of Iron with a minimum of 10.5% Chromium. This element produces a thin layer and prevents any further corrosion on the surface. This is like kitchen sinks and cutlery’s resistance to rust. Bring on the rain on collection day!

How many bin bags can a wheelie bin hold?

Depending on the capacity of refuse bags and how frugal you are with the space, the answer would vary! However, if you’re using 65L bin bags and are loosely storing the bags, you’d be able to fit:

1 refuse bag in a 50-litre wheelie bin

3 refuse bags in a 120-litre wheelie bin

4 refuse bags in a 240-litre wheelie bin

6 refuse bags in a 360-litre wheelie bin

Make sure you’ve got an idea of how much waste you’re putting out weekly when choosing the right wheelie bin size. We recommend a slightly bigger size to accommodate any extra waste in the event of a missed collection! We’ve created a handy wheelie bin size guide for your convenience.

Which wheelie bin will my council collect?

Because every council operates differently, we recommend you get in touch with your council to find out the wheelie bin size and/or capacities they would collect. Make sure you ask whether their lifting equipment is DIN/AFNOR compatible. If you still need an estimate, most councils usually collect 120-litre and 240-litre wheelie bins. These also happen to be the most popular sizes for households!

What is the British Standard for wheelie bins?

The EN840 standard is what regulates the design of mobile waste containers such as the wheelie bin. Many UK councils state that they will strictly not collect wheelie bins that don’t meet this standard. The standard dictates the design and key requirements of wheelie bins including:

The positioning and shape of the handles

The type and positioning of the wheels

The fitting of the direction blocks which assist the steering of the wheels

Can I put my house/apartment number on my wheelie bin?

Not only can you stick a number on your wheelie bin, we highly recommend it! Sometimes bins get lost in the confusion of a bin collection. When you come back home to a bunch of wheelie bins on your driveway, including the neighbours and yours, it might be good to differentiate them. We recommend a vinyl sticker with a strong enough glue that will not fade with the rain. Please take a note of your wheelie bin width when there are more than 3 digits to identify your house.

Can I use a wheelie bin in any other way?

The sky is the limit when it comes to the versatility of wheelie bins! From using it as a compost bin, to customising it for the next wheelie bin race, there’s a wide range of uses for the wheelie bin. We offer a few lids to fit our popular 120-litre and 240-litre wheelie bins, which might be of interest:

Push lids allow quick access to the bin without lifting the lid. An ideal solution for schools, cafeterias, or communal areas.

Bottle lids have an aperture wide enough to accept any bottle. Great for events or communal recycling centres.

Letter lids have a letter slot for accepting paper and cardboard. Can be used for paper recycling indoors or mail collection in the office!

We hope this blog post answered any question you might have about wheelie bins. If you have any other questions, Live Chat with us or @ us your question on Twitter! Wheelie Bins Direct2U is a supplier of EN840 compliant wheelie bins, indoor waste bins, outdoor litter bins, recycling bins as well as commercial bins & tipping skips!